Lancaster was brought up by parents Graham and Sally who were both regular gym-goers and encouraged a love of fitness. She also has a brother named Oliver. At the age of six, Lancaster took up dance, learning tap, ballet and modern but decided to quit at the age of 16 due to her height and decided aerobics would better suit her frame. Six years later Lancaster became a certified fitness trainer. It was during this time that she was spotted by a model scout who suggested she should consider a career in modelling. Lancaster suffers from chronic sweat problem called hyperhidrosis.
Career
Early career
Throughout the 1990s, Lancaster was in a long-term relationship with city trader Mickey Sloan. They lived in Bermuda from 1996 to 1998 but separated in 1999. Around this time, Lancaster decided to learn about the other side of modelling and began taking photography classes.
In 2002, Lancaster signed up to be the face of designer lingerie brand Ultimo for a reported £200,000. Although she was a success at promoting the brand - raising its profile, especially in the United Kingdom - two years later, Lancaster's contract was not renewed. She was replaced in the role by Rod Stewart's ex-wife Rachel Hunter. The decision, dubbed "Bra Wars" by the British press, was seen as a publicity stunt which infuriated Stewart who described the money-grabber as "manipulative". However, two of Stewart's daughters - Kimberly and Ruby - have since modelled for Ultimo.
''Strictly Come Dancing''
Lancaster was announced as one of the fourteen celebrities taking part in the fifth series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2007. In week 4, she was revealed as one of the bottom two participants. She and her partner were in the week six dance-off with Matt Di Angelo and were voted off. Performances
''Loose Women''
On 15 September 2014, Lancaster was billed as an occasional panelist on the lunchtime chat showLoose Women. Through series 19 of the show, she made four subsequent appearances, on 1 December 2014, 9 March 2015, 15 June 2015, 6 July 2015. Since series 20 began on 1 September 2015, Lancaster now appears more regularly and has so far appeared three times in September 2015, once in October and November 2015, twice in December 2015, twice in January 2016, twice in March 2016, twice in April 2016, twice in May 2016 and once in June 2016. As of series 21 which began on 5 September 2016, Lancaster now appears weekly.
In 1999, Lancaster met singer Rod Stewart, when he agreed to let her take photos of him whilst on tour. A romance soon developed and they began a lengthy courtship. Seven years on, Rod went down on one knee and asked for her hand in marriage at the top of the Eiffel Tower, though the wedding plans were halted when Penny discovered she was expecting the couple's first child. Lancaster gave birth to her first child, Alastair Wallace Stewart on 27 November 2005. Lancaster and Stewart married on 16 June 2007 at La Cervara near Portofino, Italy. The couple exchanged vows in the presence of family and friends. On 17 February 2011, it was announced that Lancaster had given birth to their second child, Aiden Patrick Stewart. Lancaster is an ambassador for Penny for London. She is also a vice-president of the RNIB. At the age of 46, Lancaster was diagnosed with dyslexia.
